There are a number of different categories of school governor, each with a different appointment and election procedure. Not all categories appear on every governing board and the makeup of each governing board is written in the Instrument of Government for maintained schools and in the Articles of Association for an Academy.
Most governors serve for a four-year term of office, but governing boards can decide to choose a term of between one and four years for any category of governor. In Academies the trust also has the power to appoint governors.
When appointing governors, consideration should be given to the skills and experience needed by the governing board to enable it to carry out its duties effectively.
Pupils over 18 years of age are eligible to be governors.
Governors are either:
- Elected – parent and staff governors (except the head teacher). A candidate is “elected unopposed” when the number of nominations is less than or equals the number of vacancies (and is not ‘appointed’).
or
Appointed –
- Co-opted
- Foundation
- Local Authority and partnership
- Parent governors (in certain limited circumstances)
- Trust governors (in academies)
- Associate members.
Each category of appointed governor has a different appointing body and a different appointment procedure. The process by which governors are appointed should always support fairness and openness.
Most governors serve for a four-year term.
How to apply
Before applying, can you answer ‘yes’ to the following questions? If so, then you may well have what it takes to be a school governor:
- Do you believe schools should give children the best possible education?
- Do you want to put something back into your local community?
- Are you interested in people?
- Do you have time to get to know your school, to go to meetings and read papers?
- Are you comfortable asking questions?
- Are you open to new ideas and ready to learn?
If you are interested in becoming a governor at a specific school—such as the one your child attends—please contact the Governance Professional or Chair of the governing board or speak with the Headteacher to express your interest.
Alternatively, if you would like to be considered for a school governor role more generally, please complete the application form and return it to Governor Services.
Warwickshire School Governor Application Form (PDF, 412 KB)
The appointment process
Co-opted Governors
- Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing board based on the skills they bring to support effective governance and school success.
- They may be local residents, professionals, or individuals committed to the school’s success.
- Co-opted governors can include parents, local authority members, or staff, provided that the total number of co-opted governors eligible to be elected as staff governors (including the staff governor and Headteacher) does not exceed one-third of the board.
- Some academies also include co-opted governors, as outlined in their Articles of Association.
Parent governors
- All schools and academies must have at least two parent governors.
- Parent governors are elected by and from the parents of registered pupils. If no nominations are received, the governing board may appoint a parent governor.
- To stand for election, a candidate must have a child at the school at the time of nomination. The legal definition of a parent includes anyone with parental responsibility or who has cared for a child under 19.
- If a parent governor’s child leaves the school during their term, they may continue until the end of their term.
- Individuals working more than 500 hours per year at the school are not eligible to be parent governors, though they may vote in elections.
- Elections are held by secret ballot if there are more candidates than vacancies. If the number of candidates matches the number of vacancies, they are elected unopposed. If there are insufficient nominations, the governing board may appoint a parent governor under specific criteria.
Staff governors
- Maintained schools must have one elected staff governor, chosen by and from all teaching and support staff. This role cannot be appointed.
- The Headteacher is automatically a member of the governing board due to their position. They may choose not to be a governor but still retain the right to attend all meetings. Their place on the board remains reserved and cannot be filled by anyone else.
- Staff governors are elected through a secret ballot if the role is contested.
- Staff may also be appointed as Co-opted governors, provided that the total number of co-opted governors eligible to be elected as staff governors (including the staff governor and Headteacher) does not exceed one-third of the board.
- In academies, staff governors may be elected or appointed, depending on the process set by the governing board. However, staff must not make up more than one-third of the total governor positions.
Foundation governors
- Found in foundation, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled schools, and trust schools with a foundation.
- In faith schools, they are appointed by the church or voluntary body that established the school to uphold its religious ethos.
- The parish priest or vicar may serve as an ex officio foundation governor, as stated in the school’s Instrument of Government.
- In some schools, foundation governors must outnumber all other governors by at least two.
Local authority (LA) governors
- Nominated by the Local Authority based on criteria set by the governing board of the maintained school.
- Maintained schools should have one LA governor on their governing board.
- The governing board contributes to the appointment process by identifying the skills and experience needed.
- Staff members are not eligible to be appointed as LA governors.
Partnership governors
- Only found in foundation schools.
- Appointed by the governing board from nominations by the local community and parents.
- Cannot be elected LA members, current staff, or parents of pupils attending the school.
Associate members
- Appointed by the governing board to serve on one or more committees.
- May attend full governing board meetings but are not governors.
- The governing board may assign voting rights within the committees they serve on.